King's Hawaiian rolls were created in 1950s Hilo using Portuguese sweet bread techniques—that's why sliders taste so addictive.
BBQ Cheeseburger Sliders
Get ready to fire up your taste buds with these mouthwatering BBQ Cheeseburger Sliders! Juicy beef patties are smothered in tangy barbecue sauce and topped with melty cheese, all nestled between soft slider buns. Perfect for a quick weeknight feast, these mini delights are sure to become a family favorite!
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
6
people
Level
beginner
The Story
These sliders are pure American fusion chaos—born when 1960s Hawaiian immigrants to California's Central Valley started selling their sweet bread to burger joints, creating the unholy marriage of Polynesian sweetness with Midwest beef that would make both cultures simultaneously proud and horrified, turning every backyard BBQ into an accidental Pacific Rim cultural exchange program.
Regional Twist
In Kansas City, they swap the BBQ sauce for burnt-end drippings and double the smoked paprika, creating sliders that taste like they've been kissed by a proper hickory fire.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
450
Protein
28g
Carbs
42g
Fat
15g
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 6 pieces bacon
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) bbq sauce
- crispy fried onions (to taste)
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) ground meatd garlic
- 12 count king’s hawaiian rolls
- sesame seeds (to taste)
- shredded colby jack cheese (to taste)
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- garlic powder (to taste)
- melted butter (to taste)
- onion powder (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- pepper jack cheese (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
- smoked paprika (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- 2
Cook 1 lb of ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Once the ground beef is browned, drain any extra grease from the skillet.
- 3
Add the minced garlic and BBQ sauce. Stir well.
- 4
Slice Hawaiian Rolls in half and put the bottom of the rolls in a greased baking dish or on a sheet pan.
- 5
Add a layer of pepper jack cheese. Add the ground beef on top of the cheese.
- 6
Top the ground beef with shredded colby jack cheese, some crumbled bacon, and crispy fried onions. Top with a little bit more BBQ sauce if desired!
- 7
Put the tops of the slider rolls on and brush them with melted butter. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
- 8
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Brown the ground beef at medium-high heat (325-350°F surface temp) without moving it for 3-4 minutes to develop Maillard reaction compounds that create deeper umami flavors.technique325-350°F surface temp
- ✓Toast the Hawaiian roll halves cut-side down in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before assembly to create a moisture barrier that prevents soggy bottoms from beef juices.technique2-3 minutes
- ✓Layer pepper jack on the bottom and colby jack on top because pepper jack has a lower melting point (150°F vs 180°F) and will melt first to seal the bottom bun.ingredient150°F vs 180°F melting points
- ✓Tent the sliders with foil for the first 8 minutes of baking to steam the cheese layers, then remove foil for final 2-4 minutes to brown the tops.timing8 minutes covered, 2-4 minutes uncovered
- ✓Mix the melted butter with a pinch of garlic powder before brushing because fat-soluble compounds distribute flavor more evenly than water-based seasonings.technique
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
6
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
King's Hawaiian rolls were created in 1950s Hilo using Portuguese sweet bread techniques—that's why sliders taste so addictive.
BBQ Cheeseburger Sliders
Get ready to fire up your taste buds with these mouthwatering BBQ Cheeseburger Sliders! Juicy beef patties are smothered in tangy barbecue sauce and topped with melty cheese, all nestled between soft slider buns. Perfect for a quick weeknight feast, these mini delights are sure to become a family favorite!
The Story
These sliders are pure American fusion chaos—born when 1960s Hawaiian immigrants to California's Central Valley started selling their sweet bread to burger joints, creating the unholy marriage of Polynesian sweetness with Midwest beef that would make both cultures simultaneously proud and horrified, turning every backyard BBQ into an accidental Pacific Rim cultural exchange program.
Regional Twist
In Kansas City, they swap the BBQ sauce for burnt-end drippings and double the smoked paprika, creating sliders that taste like they've been kissed by a proper hickory fire.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
450
Protein
28g
Carbs
42g
Fat
15g
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 6 pieces bacon
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) bbq sauce
- crispy fried onions (to taste)
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) ground meatd garlic
- 12 count king’s hawaiian rolls
- sesame seeds (to taste)
- shredded colby jack cheese (to taste)
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- garlic powder (to taste)
- melted butter (to taste)
- onion powder (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- pepper jack cheese (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
- smoked paprika (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- 2
Cook 1 lb of ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Once the ground beef is browned, drain any extra grease from the skillet.
- 3
Add the minced garlic and BBQ sauce. Stir well.
- 4
Slice Hawaiian Rolls in half and put the bottom of the rolls in a greased baking dish or on a sheet pan.
- 5
Add a layer of pepper jack cheese. Add the ground beef on top of the cheese.
- 6
Top the ground beef with shredded colby jack cheese, some crumbled bacon, and crispy fried onions. Top with a little bit more BBQ sauce if desired!
- 7
Put the tops of the slider rolls on and brush them with melted butter. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
- 8
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Brown the ground beef at medium-high heat (325-350°F surface temp) without moving it for 3-4 minutes to develop Maillard reaction compounds that create deeper umami flavors.technique325-350°F surface temp
- ✓Toast the Hawaiian roll halves cut-side down in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before assembly to create a moisture barrier that prevents soggy bottoms from beef juices.technique2-3 minutes
- ✓Layer pepper jack on the bottom and colby jack on top because pepper jack has a lower melting point (150°F vs 180°F) and will melt first to seal the bottom bun.ingredient150°F vs 180°F melting points
- ✓Tent the sliders with foil for the first 8 minutes of baking to steam the cheese layers, then remove foil for final 2-4 minutes to brown the tops.timing8 minutes covered, 2-4 minutes uncovered
- ✓Mix the melted butter with a pinch of garlic powder before brushing because fat-soluble compounds distribute flavor more evenly than water-based seasonings.technique